The Fifth All-Belarusian People’s Assembly (ABPA) opened in Minsk, on June 22. The two-day gathering brought together 2,500 delegates representing managers from all levels of power along with publicly acclaimed “rank-and-file” workers, scientists, students, and so on (Belta.by, June 22). It is debatable why there is a need in Belarus for that sort of extra-constitutional body to glorify the government’s achievements, legitimize its shortcomings and set plans for the future. It may well be that in countries where a parliamentary system did not develop organically—but rather in imitation of Western structures—the legislative branch is not perceived as the supreme popular …read more
Source: The Jamestown Foundation